Note: Citations are based on reference standards. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. The specific requirements or preferences of your reviewing publisher, classroom teacher, institution or organization should be applied.

The experiment examined what inexperience Soldiers learned from a computer based training program on four common Army messages: Spot Report, nuclear/biological/chemical, call for fire, and medical evacuation. It also examined the ability of Soldiers to complete tactical messages based on hypothetical combat scenarios and a prototype digital interface for the Land Warrior (LW) system. The message training focused on the doctrinal requirements for messages, not how to use the software interface. Soldiers (n = 48) were from the Infantry One Station Unit Training course. The findings showed that inexperienced Soldiers have limited knowledge of common Army messages. Although the Soldiers learned from the message training, the doctrinal training per se was shown to be a necessary, but not a sufficient condition for determining appropriate message content in hypothetical tactical situations. Soldiers also need training on digital message formats and menu selections, must possess the requisite military knowledge and experience, and have the ability to understand the battlefield situation and integrate critical elements of information. Additional research is needed on the types and length of training needed to prepare Soldiers to generate appropriate military messages.Read more...

Abstract:

The experiment examined what inexperience Soldiers learned from a computer based training program on four common Army messages: Spot Report, nuclear/biological/chemical, call for fire, and medical evacuation. It also examined the ability of Soldiers to complete tactical messages based on hypothetical combat scenarios and a prototype digital interface for the Land Warrior (LW) system. The message training focused on the doctrinal requirements for messages, not how to use the software interface. Soldiers (n = 48) were from the Infantry One Station Unit Training course. The findings showed that inexperienced Soldiers have limited knowledge of common Army messages. Although the Soldiers learned from the message training, the doctrinal training per se was shown to be a necessary, but not a sufficient condition for determining appropriate message content in hypothetical tactical situations. Soldiers also need training on digital message formats and menu selections, must possess the requisite military knowledge and experience, and have the ability to understand the battlefield situation and integrate critical elements of information. Additional research is needed on the types and length of training needed to prepare Soldiers to generate appropriate military messages.

Training on common military messages/Jean L Dyer; Adam W Vaughn; Paul N Blankenbeckler; U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences. Infantry Forces Research Unit.; Alexandria, VA : U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences, January 2004.